Magazine guide assembly with dual latching system

ABSTRACT

Applicant has disclosed a Magazine Guide Assembly with Dual Latching System for guiding, latching and unlatching differently shaped firearm magazines for rifles. In other words, the Magazine Guide Assembly can accommodate either of the differently shaped magazines. In the preferred embodiment, Applicant&#39;s invention comprises: (a) a magazine guide housing, attachable to a receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, for guiding and latching differently shaped magazines designed for AR-10 and M-14 style semi-automatic rifles; (b) the magazine guide housing has different first and second latches, wherein: (i) the latches are respectively hinged on first and second pins, attached to the housing, and activated by a single torsion spring; and (ii) the first latch is adapted to latch onto a AR-10 style magazine designed for an AR-10 style semi-automatic rifle, while the second latch is adapted to latch onto a differently shaped M-14 style magazine designed for an M-14 style semi-automatic rifle.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/686,733, filed Apr. 11, 2012. Applicant claims priority from that application. Applicant also incorporates by reference that application in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to firearms. More specifically, it relates to attaching magazines for semi-automatic rifles.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Cartridges (also known as rounds) for firearms are elongated. A typical cartridge includes a shell casing, made of brass, which is filled with an explosive propellant. At its rear or closed end, the casing has a rim or flange containing a primer. Next to the rim is an extractor groove, an annular groove machined into the casing which provides a grip for the gun's extractor to pull the fired or unfired casing from the chamber of the firearm. The front and opposite end of the casing is open. A bullet, projectile, or head, usually of lead (optionally jacketed) is partially inserted into the open or front end of the case by crimping the casing onto the bullet.

Some rifles have internally fixed magazines for feeding cartridges into a chamber. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,619,876 to Olson discloses a “magazine rifle” with an internal magazine.

The AR-15 was first built by ArmaLite, Inc. as a selective fire rifle for the United States armed forces. Because of financial problems, ArmaLite sold the AR-15 design to Colt. The select-fire AR-15 entered the U.S. military system as the M-16 rifle. Colt then marketed the Colt® AR-15 as a semi-automatic version of the M-16 rifle for civilian sales in 1963. Although the name “AR-15” and “AR-10” are registered trademarks of Colt and ArmaLite, other semi-automatic firearms are independently made, modified and sold under various names by multiple manufacturers. Most are referred to interchangeably as “AR” or “AR” style rifles (e.g., AR-10 and AR-14).

Other rifles, such as the AR-10 and M-14 styles, use detachable magazines instead to feed cartridges. Detachable magazines usually are elongated containers, generally rectangular in cross-section, which are attached to the underside of the rifle (i.e., inside a well opening of the receiver). Such magazines are commonly made of aluminum alloys, plastic, steel, or a combination.

Detachable magazines are usually closed on the sides and open on an upwardly facing top. The open top has a rectangular opening and includes two round-retaining members, known as feed lips, which project into or partly close the opening. An internal spring urges a follower or lifter (i.e., a shaped piece of plastic or metal) toward the open side. The spring-loaded follower in turn urges the rounds as a group up against the lips. The lips act as a stop for the rounds so that they are not expelled from the magazine.

Rounds are stacked or oriented in the detachable magazine such that the longitudinal axes of the rounds are substantially parallel and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spring and follower. Adjoining rounds are oriented side-by-side and in the same direction, i.e., the bullets of adjacent rounds are next to each other, as are the cases.

The rounds are usually stacked in the magazine, either in a single straight column or in a staggered (zigzag) column (also called double-stacked or high-capacity) fashion. The double-stacked magazines, being wider, have a higher round capacity compared to single-column magazines of the same overall length.

Typically, firearm magazines are slid upwardly into well openings of receivers and removably latched in place. Some well openings include integral magazine guide assemblies. Those assemblies extend downwardly form the well openings to guide and lock the magazine.

Different styles of semi-automatic rifles (e.g., AR-10 and M-14) use different style magazines with different latches. For example, an AR-10 style magazine typically cannot be used with an M-14 style rifle.

Accordingly it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved magazine guide assembly, for rifles, which can accommodate two different styles of magazines.

It is a more specific object to provide a magazine guide assembly for latching and unlatching magazine styles for two styles of semi-automatic (e.g., AR-10 or M-14 style) rifles.

It is another object to provide an improved magazine guide assembly, commensurate with the above-listed objects, which has few moving parts and is durable to use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Applicant has disclosed a new “Magazine Guide Assembly with Dual Latching System.” In the preferred embodiment, the assembly can be used for latching and unlatching magazine styles for either AR-10 or M-14 style semi-automatic rifles. In other words, the Magazine Guide Assembly is dual magazine compatible. The concept can be adapted to other types of semi-automatic rifles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon reading the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of Applicant's preferred embodiment of a Magazine Guide Assembly with Dual Latching System (“Magazine Guide Assembly”);

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a side-by-side comparison of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly, here accepting AR-10 and M-14 style magazines;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view, with portions cutaway, of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly with an AR-10 style magazine inserted;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view, with portions cutaway, of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly with an AR-10 style magazine inserted;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view, with portions cutaway, of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly with an M-14 style magazine inserted;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view, with portions cutaway, of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly with an M-14 style magazine inserted;

FIG. 8 shows an M-14 latch of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly disengaged from an M-14 magazine;

FIG. 9 shows the M-14 latch of Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly engaged with the M-14 magazine; and

FIG. 10 shows Applicant's preferred Magazine Guide Assembly attached to a receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, with portions broken away.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the drawings in detail, Applicant has disclosed a new “Magazine Guide Assembly with Dual Latching System” (“Magazine Guide Assembly”). The illustrated embodiment 100 can be used for latching and unlatching magazines for either AR-10 style or M-14 style firearms. In other words, the Magazine Guide Assembly is dual magazine compatible.

As used herein, the term “AR-10 style” refers to both AR-10® and AR-10 style semi-automatic rifles. Similarly, the term “M-14 style” refers to both M-14 and M-14 style semi-automatic rifles.

In the preferred embodiment 100, the invention comprises: a magazine guide housing 102 (attachable to a firearm receiver 104) with two individual latches 106, 108, which are hinged on two individual pins 110, 112 and activated by a single torsion spring 114. Latch 106 accommodates an AR-10 style magazine 116, while latch 108 accommodates an M-14 style magazine 118. Two arms 120 a, 120 b on the torsion spring 114 constantly apply force on the “AR-10” and “M-14” latches 106, 108 to effectively maintain the latches in closed positions.

As typical with prior assemblies, the magazines (e.g., 116, 118) are to be inserted by vertical upward motion through the bottom opening of the Magazine Guide Assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, in the event of an AR-10 style magazine 116 being fully inserted into the Magazine Guide Assembly 100, the AR-10 latch 106 will pivot around its pin 110; and a nib or protrusion 121 (of the latch) will fall into a window 122 on a side wall 124 of the AR-10 magazine 116 thus locking it in place.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, in the event of an M-14 style magazine 118 being fully inserted into the Magazine Guide Assembly 100, the M-14 latch 108 will pivot around its pin 112 and fall into a window 126 (see also FIG. 1) on a front wall 128 of the M-14 magazine 118, thus locking it in place.

The AR-10 latch 106 also serves the purpose of a disengaging lever for both styles of magazines 116, 118. The concave AR-10 latch 106 has a built-in finger 130 (at one end of the latch) to which pressure force shall be applied for disengaging action. Applying pressure to the finger 130 will cause the AR-10 latch 106 to pivot around its pin 110 to disengage its nib 121 from the AR-10 magazine 116. The pivoting AR-10 latch 106 is simultaneously pushing upon the M-14 latch 108; that causes the M-14 latch to pivot around its own pin 112 and to disengage from the M-14 magazine 118.

The illustrated Magazine Guide Assembly 100 has holes 132 a, 132 b in wings 134 a, 134 b (see FIG. 1) for securing or attaching the guide inside the well opening of a receiver (e.g., 104—see FIG. 10) of a semi-automatic rifle. The preferred Magazine Guide Assembly 100 is shown flush with the bottom of the well opening. An alternate embodiment of the guide could extend below.

Applicant's invention can also be thought of, in broad terms, as an apparatus comprising: a single magazine guide housing, attached to a receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, having means for guiding and latching differently shaped magazines, at separate times, designed for AR-10 style and M-14 style semi-automatic rifles. In the preferred embodiment, that means comprises: the individual (“first” and “second”) latches 106, 108, hinged on two individual pins 110, 112, and activated by a single torsion spring 114; wherein latch 106 is designed to latch an AR-10 style magazine 116, while latch 108 is designed to latch an M-14 style magazine 118; and wherein two arms 120 a, 120 b on the torsion spring 114 constantly apply force on the latches 106, 108 to effectively maintain the latches in closed (latched) positions.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that obvious structural modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the Magazine Guide Assembly concept could be used with two other styles of rifles. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying claims rather than the foregoing description to determine the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a. a magazine guide housing, attachable to a receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, for guiding and latching differently shaped magazines designed for AR-10 and M-14 style semi-automatic rifles; b. the magazine guide housing has different first and second latches, wherein: i. the latches are respectively hinged on first and second pins, attached to the housing, and activated by a single torsion spring; and ii. the first latch is adapted to latch onto an AR-10 style magazine designed for an AR-10 style semi-automatic rifle, while the second latch is adapted to latch onto a differently shaped M-14 style magazine designed for an M-14 style semi-automatic rifle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: the first latch is adapted to pivot around the first pin, upon an AR-10 style magazine being fully inserted into the magazine guide housing, and to fall into a window in a side wall of the AR-10 style magazine thereby locking the AR-10 style magazine in place.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: the second latch is adapted to pivot around the second pin, upon an M-14 style magazine being fully inserted into the magazine guide assembly, and to fall into a window on a front wall of the M-14 style magazine thereby locking the M-14 style magazine in place.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: two arms on the torsion spring apply force on the latches to bias the latches into closed positions.
 5. An apparatus comprising: a. a magazine guide housing for guiding and latching, at separate times, two differently shaped detachable firearm magazines; b. the magazine guide housing has different first and second latches, wherein: i. the latches are respectively hinged on separate pins, attached to the housing, and activated by a single torsion spring; ii. the first latch is adapted to latch a magazine designed for one style of rifle, while the second latch is adapted to latch a differently shaped magazine designed for another style of rifle; and iii. two arms on the torsion spring apply force on the latches to bias the latches into closed positions.
 6. An apparatus comprising: a single magazine guide housing, attachable to a receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, having means for guiding and latching differently shaped magazines designed for AR-10 style and M-14 style semi-automatic rifles.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means comprises: a. first and second latches, hinged respectively on two individual pins, and activated by a single torsion spring; b. wherein the first latch is designed to latch an AR-10 style magazine, while the second latch is designed to latch an M-14 style magazine; and c. wherein two arms on the torsion spring constantly apply force on the latches to maintain the latches in closed positions.
 8. An apparatus comprising: a single magazine guide housing, attachable to a receiver of a semi-automatic rifle, having means for guiding and latching, at separate times, two differently shaped magazines designed for semi-automatic rifles. 